Covington, KY, United States (AHN) - Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga was put on probation for two years and fined $350 Tuesday after pleading guilty to DUI charges.
The 23-year-old former USC standout also received a suspended seven-day jail sentence and his driver's license suspended for 90 days. The careless driving charge was dropped.
Maualuga, the second-round draft pick out of USC last year, was arrested in northern Kentucky Friday at about 1:45 a.m. following a DUI traffic accident report.
According to the police, Maualuga was the driver of a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire that hit a parking meter and two parked vehicles on Scott Street.
Two female passengers who were with the player at the time of the accident were released without being charged.
In a statement, Maualuga apologized "for letting everyone down and making a terrible decision to drive under the influence. I wanted to acknowledge fault quickly and accept the consequences for my actions, which are the same that anyone else facing these charges would receive."
The team offered similar regret.
"We expect a higher standard from our players, as is stressed to them continually," the team said in a statement. "Rey must work to repair the damage this has done to his reputation, and he has begun that process with an apology, an expression of strong remorse and a prompt resolution in the Kentucky court."
He was scheduled to return to court on Feb. 25 for a pre-trial conference.
A possible sanction, under the NFL's personal conduct policy, could also be meted on Maualuga.
Maualuga ranks among the top five in the team in terms of tackles. This season, he collected over 60 tackles and one sack
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